How to Pronounce Malfunction

To pronounce "malfunction", say MALF-unct-ion — 3 syllables, IPA /ˌmælˈfʌŋk.ʃən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

malfunction

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

11

Letters

/ˌmælˈfʌŋk.ʃən/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “malfunction”

"malfunction" has 3 syllables: malf-unct-ion. It rhymes with function and conjunction, if that helps it stick.

What does malfunction mean?

noun

  1. Faulty functioning
  2. Failure to function

verb

  1. To function improperly

    “She told him the machine was poorly built, but they both knew that she was the one who had malfunctioned.”

  2. To fail to function

Hear “malfunction” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with malfunction

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

functionconjunctionunctioncompunctioninjunctiondysfunction

Related words

misfunctionmisfirewrong-doingdefecterrormishapglitchfault

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "malfunction"?▾

"Malfunction" has 3 syllables: malf · unct · ion.

What is the IPA transcription of "malfunction"?▾

The IPA transcription of "malfunction" is /ˌmælˈfʌŋk.ʃən/.

What does "malfunction" mean?▾

Malfunction: Faulty functioning

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